Bhutan Tour Package | 8 Days 7 Nights

After early breakfast, you’ll proceed to Memorial Chorten. Memorial chorten is approx. 1 km away from the Thimphu city courtyard. Then you’ll proceed to Changangkha Lakhang which is just 2 km (approx.) away from Memorial Chorten. Later you’ll visit Zilukha Nunnery in Drubthob Goemba. The distance between Zilukha Nunnery and Changangkha Lakhang is 4 km (approx.) via Chhophel Lam and Thori Lam. These are the destinations you’ll visit the second day of your tour. Then you’ll drive back to hotel.

Memorial Chorten:

Memorial Chorten aka Memorial Stupa is located in Doeboom Lam. The stupa was built in 1974 AD in honor to the third Druk Gyalpo (Jigme Dorji Wangchuck ). It is a prominent landmark in the city with it’s golden bells and spires. The architecture of this stupa is Tibetan classical stupa style also named as Jangchup Chorten. This stupa is well known for the Monlam Prayer Festival, where the religious head of Bhutan Je Khenpo bless the pilgrims who congregate for the religion. This festival falls on 4th – 11th day of first Tibetan month of Tibetan Buddhism calendar.

Changangkha Lakhang:

Changangkha Lakhang is the temple complex located at the central part of Thimphu city. It is said to be more than 600 years older temple complex and is the most oldest complex of Bhutan. The children with their parents frequently visit here to get blessing from Genyen Domtsangpa, a protective deity of children. This temple is famous for the Tsechu festival which falls for 14 days in the 9th Bhutanese lunar Tibetan calendar. The masked dance is performed in 13th,13th,and 14th day of the entire festival.

Zilukha Nunnery:

Zilukha Nunnery also known as Druthob Goemba is located at Thimphu just behind the famous Taschhi Dzong. It is established by Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo. It has the housing around the spacing of 60 nuns in its premise and considered as one of the biggest nunnery of Thimphu. You can reach Zilukha Nunnery through the rout of Gaden Lam route and the little walk from the road.

Simtokha Dzong:

Simtokha Dzong also known as Sangak Zabdhon Phodrang is located 5 km (approx.) southern part from Thimphu valley. It was established on 1629 AD by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal as the monastic and administrative center in dzong architectural design. It has beautiful mandalas and many more attractive things.

After early breakfast, you’ll be proceed towards Gangtey. We will go through Dochula Pass by private vehicle. It takes about 5 hours (approx.) to reach Gangtey from Thimphu. Along the way there is 108 stupas named as Druk Wangyal Chortens, Wangdeu Phodrang.

The distance between Druk Wangyal Chortans and Wangdeu Phodrang is about 45.5 Km and it takes 1 hr 12 min (approx.) drive through Thimphu Punkaha Highway. After visiting Wangdeu Phodrang monastery we’ll continue towards Phobjikha valley where Gangtey monastery is situated.

The distance between Wangdeu Phodrang and Gangtey monastery is about 58.6 km and it takes 1 hr 45 minutes (approx.) drive through Wandue-Phodrang Nobding highway. Then we will proceed to the hotel in Gangtey.

Dochula Pass:

Dochula Pass is the snow-capped mountain way that connects Punakha and Paro districts. Along the way there is 108 chortens or stupa. One can also get the opportunity to view the 47 km2 Royal Botanical Park where Rhododendron garden lies. If you visit this park any month of winter and spring season you can easily watch different colors of Rhododendron blooming in front of your eyes.

Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortans:

Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortans also popularly known as Druk Wangyal Chortans is a complex consisting of 108 chortans and is situated at Dochula Pass. It was constructed by Her Majesty Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk as the symbol of victory. This chortans consist of three layer the first lowest layer have 45 chortans, the second mid layer has 36 chortans and the last top layer has 27 chortans. It also has the religious and cultural values because it was built as per religious ordained ritualistic procedures. Every year on December 03 Dochula Wangyal Tsechu festival is celebrated in this chortans.

Gangtey Monastery:

Gangtey Monastery also popularly known as Gangteng Monastery was established in 1613 AD by Ridgzin Pema Tinley. The entitled “King Terton” Pema Lingpa came to Phobjikha valley in the incarnation of saint to spread wishdom to Buddhist percepts people in early 15th century and was impressed with the mountains surrounded Phobjikha valley. He has foretold that his descendent will raise monastery around the central part of Phobjikha vallya and its turned into reality in the regime of Ridgzin Pema Tinley. This monastery was initially built as a small Lakhang and later expanded into the great Dzong (present structure).

In Gangtey Monastery the popular festival Tsechu falls in 5 to 10 days on 8th lunar month of Bhutanese calendar. Along with Tsechu one of the major festival also celebrated in this Gangtey monastery and that is “Crane Festival ”, where Black-nacked cranes from Tibet migrates here for 3 weeks to round this monastery in order to escape the extreme cold in the month of winter. This festival falls 12h November of every year.

After early breakfast, you’ll proceed to Gangtey Naturae Trail for 2 hours hiking. Along the trail you’ll get opportunity to visit different monasteries. The trail is sloppy and you have to hike by getting the scenic view of green grass flanked by pine trees on either side. Then you’ll visit Trongsa Museum. After visiting the museum you’ll proceed to hotel and if the time favor, you can stroll around on your own.

Trongsa Museum:

Trongsa Museum or elaborately known as Trongsa Royal Heritage Museum and officially known as Tower of Trongsa is located at Paro-Samdrupjongkhar Road, Trongsa, Bhutan. You need to walk little staircase to get into the Museum. This museum is totally dedicated to the monarch of Bhutan and the primary mission of this museum is to spread native Bhutanese art, culture, religion, and other achievement of country to the local and international tourists. There is categorized and well organized gallery to display the information and properties accordingly. The main motive of this museum is to promote Bhutan in various aspects. This museum conducts different programs and exhibition.

After early breakfast, you’ll proceed to Punakha via private vehicle to cover the 5th day program. Punakha Dzong and Chhimi Lakhang are the place you are going to cover today. After visiting Punakha Dzong you’ll proceed to Chhimi Lakhang and if time favor then can stroll around on your own after returning.

Punakha Dzong:

Punakha Dzong building is the administrative center of Punakha district. It is also know as Pungthang Dewa chhenbi Phodrang and was constructed around 1637-38 AD by Ngawang Namgyal.

It is popularly known for the crowd in the five day festival Domche falls in February and March of the Anno Domini (AD) calendar. You shouldn’t miss the last day of the cultural dance celebrated at the fifth day if you plan to travel Bhutan for the celebration of this festival.

Chimi Lakhang:

Chimi Lakhang is the last monastery of Punkaha district you’ll visit. It was built on 1449 by Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel. The maverick saint named Drukpa Kunley built a chorten on the site around 15th centuries. It is built under Bhutanese architecture. This is one of the attractive monastery in Punkaha district that worth a lot to visit.

After early breakfast, you’ll proceed to Paro. The duration of our drive depends upon the previous overnight. The distance between Punakha and Wangdeu is 15 km (approx. 30 min drive). If you proceed Paro from Punakha the distance will be 115 km and it takes about 3 hr 30 min drive (approx.) else the distance will be 100 km and it takes about 3 hr drive (approx.). After reaching to Paro you’ll proceed to the famous Rinpung Dzong. Then you’ll visit Kichu Lakhang and Drugyel Dzong respectively. The distance between Rinpung Dzong and Kichu Lakhang is 7 km and it takes 15 min drive (approx.) to reach Kichu Lakhang. Similarly, the distance between Kichu Lakhang and Drugyel Dzong is 13 km and it takes 30 min drive (approx.) to reach Drugyel Dzong. After visiting to all these destinations you’ll proceed to hotel.

Rinpung Dzong:

Rinpung Dzong is a fortress built on 16th century by king Drung Drung Gyal as a small temple. Later in the 17th century his Ngawang Namgyal linage king Zhabdrung Rinpoche established another big Dzong in the exact same area and merged the big to the samall Rinpung Dzong. It has 5 storied and currently this monument/property is used as the governmental administrative building. In Rinpung Dzong, Tsechu festival is celebrated annually which falls on March or April months of Georgian calendar.

Kichu Lakhang:

Kichu Lakhang also known as Kyerchu or Lho Kyerchu is located at Lango Gewog of Paro district. Kichu Lakhang is one of the most oldest Lakhang in Bhutan and around. Though there is still controversy on the establishment date of this stupa but many historians and some scripts suggest that it was established by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo on early 7th century. It is believed that, the orange tree in the courtyard of the stupa bear fruits for all time of the year.
Drugyel Dzong:

Drugyel Dzong is a fortress built by Tenzing Drukdra in early 17th century. It was built to celebrate the victory over Tibet invasion. It is built in Tibet-Bhutan border to show the strength of Bhutanese defense system and by the intension to down the Tibetan attacking and defense force psychologically. In the local language of Bhutan Drugyel Dzong means “Fortress of victorious Drukpa”

After early breakfast, you’ll proceed for hiking for the most awaited Tiger’s Nest Monastery (approx. 4 hrs). After the hike you may also visit farmhouse. At the time of returning you may also does horse riding as an optional activity and it cost US$ 25 per person. This will cost you extra. Then you’ll return to hotel.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery:

Tiger’s Nest Monastery is also known as Taktsang Pallug Monastery and is scared Vajrayana Buddhist monastery situated just above the upper Paro valley. It was discovered as a meditation cave in early 9th century but the current structure of the monastery is constructed in 1962 AD. This monastery is very beautiful and famous for tourist. This monastery design and structure upper the stone is too much awesome than our imagination.

This is the last day of 8 Days 7 Nights Bhutan Tour Package. You took the happiest memories from the land of thunder dragon at this day. On this day after having early breakfast, you’ll proceed to Airport by private vehicle to catch the flight to Kathmandu. The departure from Bhutan will be the official end of this package for you.